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<div class="pg_page_title">đŸ‡«đŸ‡· How to Express Surprise in French đŸ˜Č</div>
[[File:How to express Surprise in French PolyglotClub Wiki2.jpg|thumb]]
Bonjour French learners! In this lesson, you will learn how the French like to express their '''feelings of SURPRISE & astonishment'''. 😼


When something unusual happens, it is common for French to use typical expressions like "Oh my God" in English or "Madre mía" in Spanish. 
<youtube>9LZfLmAlEXM</youtube>


This type of short expressions help us to express our emotions when something happens so that our interlocutor can see our reaction.  
When something unusual happens, the French have their own casual and fun expressions. Enjoy your learning journey! 😊


French people have their own fun expressions like in the examples below:
After mastering this lesson, you can also explore other related pages such as [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Tools|French vocabulary tools]], [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Clothes|French clothing vocabulary]], and [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Cardinal-and-Ordinal-Numbers|French numbers and time vocabulary]] to further enhance your language skills.


Remember, you can edit this page if you think it can be improved (this is a wiki page...). Bonne chance! đŸ‡«đŸ‡·
==Most common expressions ==
<blockquote>NB : these expressions always end with an exclamation mark.</blockquote>
===Oh la la ! / Oh lĂ  lĂ  ! / Oh !===
[[File:oh_la_la_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Oh my God! / Oh dear! / Wow!


==Ça, alors !==
It is an interjection which expresses surprise / amazement.
*Whoops!


==Ça, c'est bien !==
Examples of use:
*How good!


==C'est impossible !==
*''Oh la la ! il est déjà 20h30, je vais rater mon train !''
*It is impossible!
<blockquote>Oh dear ! It's already 8:30 pm, I'll miss my train!</blockquote>
*''Oh la la !  mais qu'est-ce qui t'es arrivé ?''
<blockquote>Oh dear ! But what happened to you?</blockquote>
*''Oh la la !  qu'est-ce qu'il fait chaud ici !''
<blockquote>Oh dear ! It's so hot here!</blockquote>


==C'est magnifique !==
===Ça alors !===
*Magnificent!
[[File:ça_alors_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: My goodness!, good grief!
This exclamation can express a whole range of reactions, from delight to surprise or indignation. 
* Examples:
''Ça alors ! Je n'aurais jamais imaginĂ© cela !''<blockquote>My goodness! I'd never have imagined that.</blockquote>


==GĂ©nial !==
===Whaou !===
*Great!)
[[File:wahou_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Wow!
*Example: Whaou ! Tu as vu ce qu'il est capable de faire ?
<blockquote>Wow, have you seen what he can do?</blockquote>


==Impressionnant !==
===C'est pas possible ! / C'est pas vrai ! / C'est pas croyable !===
*Awesome!
[[File:cest_pas_possible_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: I can't believe it! / No way!


==Incroyable !==
The standard (full) form reads: "C'''E''' '''N''''est pas possible/vrai" but in oral discourse the "N'/NE" negation particle is often omitted.
*Amazing!


==Mon Dieu !==
===Je n'y crois pas ! / J'y crois pas===
*Oh my God!
[[File:je_ny_crois_pas_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: I can't believe it!
Note : "J'y crois pas" is more informal than "Je n'y crois pas".
*Example: Je n'y crois pas, elle a osé!
<blockquote>I can't believe this, she dared to do that!</blockquote>


==Oh la la !==
===C'est magnifique !===
*Oh!
[[File:cest_magnifique_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Awesome!
*Example: Je rentre de l'exposition: C'est vraiment magnifique !
<blockquote>I come back from the exhibition: It's really beautiful/awesome!</blockquote>


==Ouf !==
===GĂ©nial !===
*Phew!
[[File:genial_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Great!
This adjective which means super, great, something which is deemed brilliant and/or fantastic.


==Quel malheur !==
===Impressionnant !===
*What a disgrace!
[[File:impressionnant_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: That's stunning/impressive!


==Comme c’est beau==
* Example: Wahou ! C'est impressionnant, trÚs beau travail !  
*How beautiful!*


*Quel travail !
===Incroyable !===
What work!)
[[File:incroyable_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Incredible/I can't believe it!
*Example: Incroyable, il l'a fait !
<blockquote>How incredible/I can't believe it, he did it!</blockquote>


==Quelle chance !==
===Mon Dieu !===
*What a Luck!
[[File:mon_dieu_french.mp3]]
*Meaning: Oh my God!
It's similar to the English locution "OH MY GOD" or "oh my gosh".
* Example: Mon dieu, ce n'est pas possible !
<blockquote>Oh my God, it's not possible!</blockquote>


==Quoi ?==
===Quel malheur !===
*Quoi ? Il a fait ça? (What? He did that?)
*Meaning: What a disgrace!
*Example: Tu as vu l'article dans le journal? Quel malheur !
<blockquote>Did you see the article in the newspaper? What a disgrace!</blockquote>


==N’importe quoi!==
===Comme c’est beau !===
It simply means “whatever,” and is commonly used in French when someone wishes to display disagreement in an informal way.
*Meaning: How beautiful! / it's beautiful
*"Je te jure! Je n’ai rien fait! (I swear, I didn’t do anything!)" - "N’importe quoi
 (Whatever
)"
*Example: Tu as vu ce qu'ils ont fait? Comme c'est beau !
<blockquote>Did you see what they did? It's beautiful!</blockquote>


Similarly, in some other contexts, n’importe quoi can mean “anything,” like in this example:
===Quel travail !===
*J’aurais donnĂ© tout et n’importe quoi ! (I would have given anything and everything!)
*Meaning: What work!
*Example: Quel travail ! Il a nettoyé toute la maison
<blockquote>Good job! He has cleaned the whole house</blockquote>


==Je n’en crois pas mes yeux !==
===Quelle chance !===
*I can’t believe my eyes!
*Meaning: What luck!
Use this expression when you’re really surprised by something you are witnessing.


*Example: Quelle chance ! tu as décroché le poste.
<blockquote>How lucky you are! You got the job.</blockquote>


==Trop bien !==
===Quoi ?===
*Awesome!
*Meaning: What? / Say what?
==Oh la vache !==
*Example: Quoi ? Il a fait ça?
*holy cow!
<blockquote>What? He did that?</blockquote>
==Putain !==
 
*f**k!
===N'importe quoi !===
Among young French people, “putain” is so common, it may even be used as often as the word “oui”. Its nearest equivalent in English is probably “f**k!”.
*Meaning: "Nonsense!" (US) / "BS" / "Rubbish!" (UK)
It can be used to express anger, but can also be used to describe something amazing : "C'est un putain d’artiste!" (it's a f****ing! artist).
 
*Example: Il a osé faire ça ? N'importe quoi !
<blockquote>He dared to do that? Nonsense!</blockquote>
 
===Je (n’)en crois pas mes yeux !===
*Meaning: I can’t believe my eyes!
 
===Trop bien !===
*Meaning: Awesome!
===Oh la vache !===
*Meaning: holy cow, Wow, Good heavens!
Use "oh la vache!", or simply "la vache!", to express surprise or admiration.
 
===Mince alors ! / zut alors ! ===
*Meaning: Ah, heck!
Surprise with a certain degree of disappointment.
 
===Je reste sans voix / Je reste bouche bée===
*Literally: I remain speechless
 
===ça m'étonne / ça me surprend===
*Literally: that amazes me
 
===Ah bon ? / Vraiment ? / Tiens ?===
*Meaning: really?
 
===Non! ===
*Often followed by: "C'est pas possible !
 
===C'est un truc de fou ! / C'est un truc de ouf ! ===
*Meaning: it's crazy!
 
===Je (n')en reviens pas !===
*Meaning: I can't believe it !
 
==Slang Expressions ''(warning: offensive language!)''==
===Putain !===
 
*Meaning: fuck!
Among young French people, "putain" is a common interjection which is rarely expressed to harm someone. Its nearest equivalent in English is probably “Fuck!” / "For fuck's sake".  
 
It is usually used as an interjection or an adjective to express anger, but it can also be used to convey surprise (positively or negatively) :
*Example: Wahou ! c'est un putain d’artiste !
<blockquote>He is some fucking artist!</blockquote>
*Example: Putain ! arrĂȘte tes conneries !
<blockquote>Cut the crap/bullshit, for fuck's sake!</blockquote>
 
===Merde !===
*Meaning: shit!
It has the same meaning as "Putain !".
 
A combination of the two words are often used as in "Putain, merde !" or "Putain de merde".
 
*Example: Putain, merde ! C'est pas possible.
<blockquote>Fuck! I can't believe it!</blockquote>
 
==Videos==
 
<youtube>2t_U6CzJpSk</youtube>


==VIDEOS==
<youtube>jhpMNTe-6UA</youtube>


{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=How to express suprise in French?
|title=đŸ˜Č How to Express Surprise in French đŸ‡«đŸ‡·
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|keywords=oh, mon dieu, words, expression, slang, casual, conversations.
|description=How to express our astonishment in French. Some common expression to use.
|description=How to express our astonishment in French. Here are some popular expressions your can use.
|og:image=https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/images/9/9c/Learn_french_express_suprise.png
|og:image=https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/images/9/9c/Learn_french_express_suprise.png
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[[Category:French/Beginner]]
[[Category:French/Beginner]]
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Music|Music]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Gage-Gager|Gage Gager]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Feelings-and-Emotions|Feelings and Emotions]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/When-use-"Mets",-"Met",-"Mes"-or-"Mais"-in-French|When use "Mets", "Met", "Mes" or "Mais" in French]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Count-from-1-to-10|Count from 1 to 10]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Education|Education]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Election|Election]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Personnes-VS-Gens|Personnes VS Gens]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/School|School]]
* [[Language/French/Vocabulary/Body|Body]]
<span links></span>

Latest revision as of 23:17, 22 January 2024

đŸ‡«đŸ‡· How to Express Surprise in French đŸ˜Č
How to express Surprise in French PolyglotClub Wiki2.jpg

Bonjour French learners! In this lesson, you will learn how the French like to express their feelings of SURPRISE & astonishment. 😼

When something unusual happens, the French have their own casual and fun expressions. Enjoy your learning journey! 😊

After mastering this lesson, you can also explore other related pages such as French vocabulary tools, French clothing vocabulary, and French numbers and time vocabulary to further enhance your language skills.

Remember, you can edit this page if you think it can be improved (this is a wiki page...). Bonne chance! đŸ‡«đŸ‡·

Most common expressions[edit | edit source]

NB : these expressions always end with an exclamation mark.

Oh la la ! / Oh lĂ  lĂ  ! / Oh ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Oh my God! / Oh dear! / Wow!

It is an interjection which expresses surprise / amazement.

Examples of use:

  • Oh la la ! il est dĂ©jĂ  20h30, je vais rater mon train !

Oh dear ! It's already 8:30 pm, I'll miss my train!

  • Oh la la ! mais qu'est-ce qui t'es arrivĂ© ?

Oh dear ! But what happened to you?

  • Oh la la ! qu'est-ce qu'il fait chaud ici !

Oh dear ! It's so hot here!

Ça alors ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: My goodness!, good grief!

This exclamation can express a whole range of reactions, from delight to surprise or indignation. 

  • Examples:

Ça alors ! Je n'aurais jamais imaginĂ© cela !

My goodness! I'd never have imagined that.

Whaou ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Wow!
  • Example: Whaou ! Tu as vu ce qu'il est capable de faire ?

Wow, have you seen what he can do?

C'est pas possible ! / C'est pas vrai ! / C'est pas croyable ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: I can't believe it! / No way!

The standard (full) form reads: "CE N'est pas possible/vrai" but in oral discourse the "N'/NE" negation particle is often omitted.

Je n'y crois pas ! / J'y crois pas[edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: I can't believe it!

Note : "J'y crois pas" is more informal than "Je n'y crois pas".

  • Example: Je n'y crois pas, elle a osĂ©!

I can't believe this, she dared to do that!

C'est magnifique ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Awesome!
  • Example: Je rentre de l'exposition: C'est vraiment magnifique !

I come back from the exhibition: It's really beautiful/awesome!

GĂ©nial ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Great!

This adjective which means super, great, something which is deemed brilliant and/or fantastic.

Impressionnant ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: That's stunning/impressive!
  • Example: Wahou ! C'est impressionnant, trĂšs beau travail !

Incroyable ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Incredible/I can't believe it!
  • Example: Incroyable, il l'a fait !

How incredible/I can't believe it, he did it!

Mon Dieu ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Oh my God!

It's similar to the English locution "OH MY GOD" or "oh my gosh".

  • Example: Mon dieu, ce n'est pas possible !

Oh my God, it's not possible!

Quel malheur ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: What a disgrace!
  • Example: Tu as vu l'article dans le journal? Quel malheur !

Did you see the article in the newspaper? What a disgrace!

Comme c’est beau ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: How beautiful! / it's beautiful
  • Example: Tu as vu ce qu'ils ont fait? Comme c'est beau !

Did you see what they did? It's beautiful!

Quel travail ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: What work!
  • Example: Quel travail ! Il a nettoyĂ© toute la maison

Good job! He has cleaned the whole house

Quelle chance ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: What luck!
  • Example: Quelle chance ! tu as dĂ©crochĂ© le poste.

How lucky you are! You got the job.

Quoi ?[edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: What? / Say what?
  • Example: Quoi ? Il a fait ça?

What? He did that?

N'importe quoi ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: "Nonsense!" (US) / "BS" / "Rubbish!" (UK)
  • Example: Il a osĂ© faire ça ? N'importe quoi !

He dared to do that? Nonsense!

Je (n’)en crois pas mes yeux ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: I can’t believe my eyes!

Trop bien ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Awesome!

Oh la vache ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: holy cow, Wow, Good heavens!

Use "oh la vache!", or simply "la vache!", to express surprise or admiration.

Mince alors ! / zut alors ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: Ah, heck!

Surprise with a certain degree of disappointment.

Je reste sans voix / Je reste bouche bée[edit | edit source]

  • Literally: I remain speechless

ça m'étonne / ça me surprend[edit | edit source]

  • Literally: that amazes me

Ah bon ? / Vraiment ? / Tiens ?[edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: really?

Non![edit | edit source]

  • Often followed by: "C'est pas possible !

C'est un truc de fou ! / C'est un truc de ouf ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: it's crazy!

Je (n')en reviens pas ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: I can't believe it !

Slang Expressions (warning: offensive language!)[edit | edit source]

Putain ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: fuck!

Among young French people, "putain" is a common interjection which is rarely expressed to harm someone. Its nearest equivalent in English is probably “Fuck!” / "For fuck's sake".

It is usually used as an interjection or an adjective to express anger, but it can also be used to convey surprise (positively or negatively) :

  • Example: Wahou ! c'est un putain d’artiste !

He is some fucking artist!

  • Example: Putain ! arrĂȘte tes conneries !

Cut the crap/bullshit, for fuck's sake!

Merde ![edit | edit source]

  • Meaning: shit!

It has the same meaning as "Putain !".

A combination of the two words are often used as in "Putain, merde !" or "Putain de merde".

  • Example: Putain, merde ! C'est pas possible.

Fuck! I can't believe it!

Videos[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

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